The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated P181.615 million for various capability-building programs for poor, vulnerable and marginalized households and communities in Negros Occidental, including the highly-urbanized city of Bacolod, for 2023.
Under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the financial target amounts to P70.44 million for the micro-enterprise development (MD) and employment facilitation (EF) track funded by the General Appropriations Act of 2023.
Other allocations include the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana), P38.1 million; Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) for endorsed former rebels, P220,000; and special referral of the Office of Secretary/crisis intervention, P72.855 million.
“I assure you of transparency (in the implementation of the programs),” DSWD-Western Visayas Regional Director Carmelo Nochete said during a Media Forum held at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
Of the P70.44 million total fund for the SLP, some P68.265 million has been allocated for 4,551 beneficiaries in Negros Occidental while P2.175 million is for 145 beneficiaries in Bacolod City.
SLP provincial coordinator for Negros Occidental Ramil Raquit said they have achieved the 100 percent submission of proposals while 30 percent of these have already been funded as of Oct. 18.
He added that all the proposals are for assistance under the MD track, which includes seed capital fund, skills training fund, and cash for building livelihood assets fund.
For the Pamana program, funding of P38.1 million is available for 127 associations in conflict-vulnerable areas.
As of Oct. 18, some 66 associations have availed of P19.8 million while 61 others with the remaining funding of P18.3 million must submit proposals by Oct. 31.
The beneficiaries of the LSG grant of P220,000 include Himamaylan City, P120,000; Kabankalan City, PHP60,000; and Hinoba-an and Toboso towns, P20,000 each.
For the special referrals from legislators and local chief executives totaling P72.855 million, the funding allocations include P30 million for 2,000 beneficiaries in Negros Occidental’s six districts; P15.9 million, 1,060 beneficiaries in the first district; and P15 million for 1,000 beneficiaries in Bacolod City.
Among the local government units, the allocations are P2 million for 110 beneficiaries in Escalante City; P1 million for 100 beneficiaries in each of the towns of Valladolid, Calatrava, E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, and Hinoba-an; P500,000 for 50 beneficiaries in Kabankalan City; and P300,000 for 30 beneficiaries in Victorias City.
Also, the Office of the Vice President has a special referral of P4.155 million for 277 beneficiaries in Bacolod City. | NND
